metal fragment
Report a Mistake- Object Number 19390002-129
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Event
1914-1919 First World War
1917 Halifax Explosion - Affiliation --
- Artist / Maker / Manufacturer --
- Date Made --
- Place of Use Continent - Europe, Country - France
- Category Unclassifiable artifacts
- Sub-category Artifact remnant
- Department Arms and Technology
- Museum CWM
- Materials Iron
- Service Component Merchant Navy
- Unit SS Mont Blanc
- Measurements Height 14.0 cm, Length 13.0 cm, Depth 1.0 cm
- Caption Fragment of the SS Mont Blanc
- Additional Information This torn and twisted piece of metal from the French freighter SS Mont Blanc testifies to the force of the Halifax Explosion. In the early morning of 6 December 1917, two ships, the SS Mont Blanc and the SS Imo, collided in Halifax harbour. The Mont Blanc, carrying explosives, caught fire and exploded a little after 9:00 AM, creating the largest human-made explosion to that date. The North End of Halifax was levelled, and throughout the city 1,600 people were killed and 9,000 more injured. Many were blinded by flying glass from shattered windows.
- Caption S.S. Mont Blanc Metal Fragment
- Additional Information The explosion of the French munitions ship, Mont Blanc, was so powerful that it blew this ship fragment several kilometres inland.